Become familiar with the candidates stepping forward to lead NASN. All candidates have completed the nominating committee process. In the upcoming election, NASN members will select a president-elect, secretary/treasurer, and a nominating committee member. The election will be conducted online from March 15, 2021 to April 15, 2021.

Donna Mazyck is the recipient of the 2020 Juanita Cunningham Evans Memorial Award bestowed by the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH). This award is as an ongoing memorial to Juanita Cunningham Evans, an instrumental developer of the National Center for School Mental Health. The award is given to an individual who significantly impacted the advancement of school mental health policy, research, and/or practice. Donna was nominated for the 2020 award and selected as the winner by the NCSMH Conference Committee. The award will be announced at their conference next week. The Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health is virtual and free this year.

School nurses are the main healthcare providers that provide frontline care to students and families that may have been affected either directly or indirectly by human trafficking in various forms. Since human trafficking incidents continue to rise in the United States and around the world, it’s imperative that school nurses are educated and made aware of the different forms of trafficking that can infiltrate the school community and healthcare settings, so they can be prepared to identify signs of trafficking, advocate for resources and educate the school community on this issue. Participants will receive 1.25 CNE contact hours.

Julia Muennich Cowell, editor of The Journal of School Nursing, and author J. Mac McCullough discuss the article, "Association of Presence of a School Nurse With Increased Sixth-Grade Immunization Rates in Low-Income Arizona Schools in 2014–2015."

Spread the word – Getting an annual flu vaccine is more important than ever this fall. #FightFlu by getting vaccinated today. During the month of October, use #BooToTheFlu to encourage others to get their flu vaccine by Halloween.

Right now, researchers and scientists, with the full support of the U.S. government, are working to develop a safe and effective vaccine for adults and adolescents against the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. Learn more in a newly released 6.5 minute video by HHS.

Every year, millions of children look forward to Halloween – planning their costumes and anticipating loads of candy. But our friends at FoodAllergyFARE remind us that children with food allergies and their parents must approach Halloween with caution and diligent label-reading!

Educators tend to have good intentions and work overtime to meet the needs of their students. However, due to pressures and critiques inside and outside of education, they may forget fundamental imperatives that can propel or stifle learning opportunities in schools and classrooms. This presentation will focus on five imperatives necessary to build and cultivate justice in schools for mental health.

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